Back of the class

Modern teachers are, for the most part, much better than their counterparts 50 years ago despite the rosetinted memories of many in middle age about their school days, according to columnist Cameron Wylie.

In 1960 a young PE teacher was sent to our west Highland school from Fort William to “fill in”. He told us in no uncertain terms that he resented having to make a 40-mile round trip by car but that wasn’t all. He then proceeded to tell us that Highlanders belonged to an inferior race. Did our kilted headmaster sack him? No, of course not. That person continued to teach west Highland children in Lochaber until he retired. Let’s hope teachers like him are weeded out at an early stage these days.

Ewan Macintyre

I hope the author of the article is correct in saying today’s teachers take more interest in their pupils as my experience was if you came from the wrong side of the tracks, as the Americans say, they had little interest in you, your ambitions or your performance no matter how gifted academically you were.

City Loon

I did encounter some good teachers in my time at school, during the 70s and 80s. Far too many, however, had no place being in a classroom, nor in charge of young people in any capacity. I wonder what would be said nowadays if a primary school teacher was discovered to be a functioning alcoholic, who was fond of a less-thandiscreet tipple in class?.

Ian R Mcsherry